JD Vance Probably Didn’t Cause the Pope’s Death
By Romen Basu Borsellino | 22 Apr, 2025

The internet’s insistence that JD Vance is to blame for the death of Pope Francis doesn’t stand up to our analysis.

When the world learned of Pope Francis’s passing Monday, many took to the internet to do two things: Mourn the Pope and blame Vice President JD Vance for his death. 

For those unfamiliar, this theory is linked to the fact that Vance was the last public figure to meet with the Pope just hours before his death, compounded by Vance’s reputation for destroying anything he touches, like College Football’s National Championship trophy, which became two trophies when Vance’s attempted to hoist it during last week’s White House bash for Ohio State.

Some found it suspicious that almost immediately following his meeting with the Pope, Vance hopped a plane to India, a possible attempt to get as far from the crime scene as possible. Look, I may not agree with Vance politically, but in the spirit of unity — which the Pope would most certainly have wanted — I’d like to say as clearly and unequivocally as I can: JD Vance probably didn’t cause the Pope’s death. 

True, since being picked as Donald Trump’s Vice Presidential nominee last summer, Vance has been mocked for his use of eyeliner.  While I can imagine a scenario in which a wheelchair-bound 88-year old Pope in poor health might quite literally be scared to death by a man who appears to have borrowed his makeup from Insane Clown Posse, I find it unlikely. 

After all, the Pope has survived meetings with President Donald Trump whose own use of makeup makes Vance look au natural by comparison.  If you want to claim that JD Vance looks like a cheap Marilyn Manson wannabe, that’s your prerogative, but it’s weak evidence for accusing him of the Pope’s demise. 

True, too, that some of the evidence against Vance may seem compelling at first blush.  Numerous Twitter users have posted videos depicting a fist fight between the Vice President and the Holy Father, accompanied by speculation that overexertion from the brawl may have precipitated his death. 

We have thus far found nothing to support or discredit the authenticity of this viral video of an altercation between the Pope and Vance

Let’s recall that we live in an age where artificial intelligence runs rampant. No matter how believable it may be that His Holiness would have found himself overcome with the urge to take up fisticuffs against the 40-year old Yale Law grad, we must at least consider the possibility that these videos are deepfakes. 

Finally, killing someone is forbidden in Vatican City. Sure, Vance has shown utter contempt for the laws governing his own country as evidenced by the Trump-Vance administration’s refusal to abide by a recent Supreme Court ruling to bring home an immigrant that Vance himself admitted was wrongfully sent to El Salvador.  But that doesn’t mean he would disrespect the laws of a nation whose laws he hasn’t even sworn to uphold with a hand on the bible.

So, please, let’s all refrain from claiming that JD Vance killed Pope Francis when there is a pretty good chance that he didn’t.  No matter how compelling the evidence against him may be, Vice President Vance is entitled to due process.  Even if his constituents aren’t.